What Types Of Nursing Degrees Are There
From certificate programs to doctoral degrees, there are many different pathways to a career in nursing.
With so many types of nursing degrees available, its important to understand how each program works so you can find the one thats right for you. Whether youre a recent high school graduate, experienced professional, or career changer, making the right decision means considering each option against your goals, financial resources, and lifestyle.
In This Article
Certified Nursing Assistant|LPN/LVN|Associate Degree in Nursing|Bachelor of Science in Nursing |Master of Science in Nursing|Joint Masters|Doctorate
Weve compiled a descriptive list of the different types of nursing degrees available and what they involve in regards to program content, length of time, and job potential. By selecting the program that meets your personal and professional goals, youll position yourself for success in the rewarding field of nursing.
What Kind Of Accreditation Does The Program Hold How Is It Regarded In The Field
Accreditation is a vital part of the selection process for online or on-campus degrees. Accreditation is an assurance of quality education relied upon by students, graduates, employers, and other educational institutions. The US Department of Education appoints independent organizations to conduct accreditation assessments. They can grant or deny accreditation based upon objective educational standards. The Department of Education established a set of regions and appointed an agency to verify accreditation of the schools, colleges, and universities offering higher education within those territories. There are two types of accreditation they are regional accreditation and national accreditation.
National Accreditation is a type of assessment that compares elements of a school with other similar schools across the entire US. The types of schools that can get national accreditation include some online-only schools, vocational schools, and schools with special classifications like faith-based organizations. National accreditation works well when the agency has Department of Education recognition.
Regional accreditation is the most influential and widely accepted type of accreditation. Regional accreditation is intensive and thorough. The standards include the best -performing institutions in a multi-state region.
College Degree Levels: Graduate Degrees
Graduate degrees are advanced degrees that tend to be more specialized and provide a much more in-depth education. Getting into graduate school can be difficult and the coursework in graduate programs is typically quite rigorous. To enter a graduate program, a bachelor’s degree is almost always required, as is an entrance exam, such as the Graduate Records Examination . Careers that do require graduate degrees are generally fairly high-level, and often well-compensated as a result.
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Diploma And Certificate Programs
Colleges and institutes offer diploma and certificate programs as their primary activity, while some offer degrees in areas of particular specialization. Where they are offered, degree programs may be two-year associate degrees or four-year applied degrees. Generally speaking, university diplomas and certificates require one or two years of study in a specific field or discipline. However, these programs vary widely from institution to institution, and from province to province.
Community colleges are government-regulated post-secondary institutions offering one- to two-year academic and pre-professional certificates, diplomas, two-year associate’s degrees and even three- and four-year specialized bachelor’s degrees. More than 150 community colleges accommodate approximately 900,000 full-time and 1.5 million part-time learners at over 900 campuses across Canada. Thousands of international students come to Canada for community college study each year.
What Are The Different Degree Levels
Thinking about going to uni? Theres more than one way to get a degree
Gaining a degree is a great way to gain knowledge in your chosen field. Not only will further education help with your own personal development, itll also enhance your career opportunities. But how can you figure out which degree level is right for you?
To make your options clearer, heres everything you need to know about the most common degree levels:
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Postgraduate Master’s Degree/doctoral Degree In Canada
A master’s degree in Canada typically requires two years of study after successful completion of an honours baccalaureate. The normal qualification for a doctoral program is a master’s degree. However, students have been allowed, in special circumstances, to pass directly from an honours baccalaureate program into a doctoral program. A minimum of three years and up to four or five years of study and research, as well as a dissertation, are the normal requirements for a doctorate. The degree is generally known as a Ph.D. however, doctoral degrees in Canada may also be granted in particular fields of study such as music or law .
In regulated professions such as medicine, law, education and social work, an internship or practicum is generally required in order to obtain a license to practice.
Many colleges and universities offer one- or two-year postgraduate diploma and certificate programs to students who wish to augment their undergraduate degree with specialized training.
Why Get A Master’s Degree
There are a number of reasons why a student may choose to pursue a master’s degree, but almost all of them involve employment. Advanced positions in specialized fields, particularly executive positions often require an advanced degree, and students who earn a master’s degree can put themselves on the fast-track to higher earnings and increased progress in their field. A master’s degree is typically a program that takes between one and two years of specialized study in a particular area and often involves independent study, fieldwork or internships and the completion of a master’s thesis.
Master’s programs are also sometimes necessary for certain professions, such as teaching in a public school or being a social worker. Another reason that people earn a master’s degree is that it is a prerequisite for most Ph.D. programs. A master’s is a stepping stone between the general education program of the typical bachelor’s degree and the highly specialized research-oriented doctorate degree program.
While many students may feel that a master’s degree is a necessity for them to pursue their line of work, it is not a requirement in many fields and in many vocations. Very often, people in fields like the arts, entertainment, hospitality, marketing, media and real estate do not need academic degrees to move up in their fields. Instead, professional experience, hard work, industry knowledge and skills are the credentials that help them advance in their chosen career.
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Do You Have To Have High School Diploma To Go To 4 Year College
If you have an associates degree or at least 60 college credits, many colleges will waive the high school diploma requirement. Almost all 4-year colleges specify certain educational background requirements. You should have passed the following courses at the high school level:
Understanding Undergraduate Vs Graduate Education
Within a university, there are different levels of degrees. All Bachelors Degree programs are considered to be undergraduate programs. An undergraduate program is a more general program of study, focused on a certain field but not necessarily specializing in a certain topic. In contrast, a Masters or PhD level program is considered graduate education. Graduate programs are usually much smaller, highly specialized programs which emphasize research.
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Master Of Business Administration Level 7
An MBA is an internationally-recognised degree that develops skills for careers in business and management. It can also be used to open doors for a managerial career in other areas, such as the public sector, government, and private industry.
Earning an MBA can help professionals take on ambitious new roles, boost their salary expectations or provide the knowledge and skills necessary to start their own business.
To enrol on an MBA course, you usually need an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. Typically, an MBA programme takes a year to complete, or 2 years if you choose to study part-time.
What Is A Bs Degree
The Bachelor of Science degree is targeted to specific concentrations. BS students, more often than not, focus specifically on the field of their major and tend to be extremely career-focused. This system of study increases the working adults chances of moving toward higher paying jobs within their field of study. Bachelor degrees in the medical field, for example, are more likely to be Bachelor of Science degrees.
Popular majors that make the Bachelor of Science degree list include Computer Science, Business, Economics, Nursing, Chemical Engineering, and Biology.
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What Is An Associate Degree Vs A Bachelor’s Degree
Many people who are considering applying to be accepted for post-secondary study have the option of attending a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degree, or they can attend a two-year program to earn their associate degree. While both offer the opportunity for career advancement beyond what a high-school diploma can bring, the two degrees are very different. It is important to learn about what they offer, so you can assess which educational program is most appropriate for your goals.
An associate degree is a post-secondary degree that is directed at preparing students for entry-level jobs in a particular set of careers. Associate degrees are generally specialized and give the degree holder the expertise, experience and background necessary to begin a career in a particular field.
Almost all of the fields that associate degree holders pursue are vocational in nature, meaning that they are focused on the performance of a particular job or occupation. The classification of associate degrees includes the A.A. or Associate of Arts, the A.S. or Associate of Science and the A.A.S or Associate of Applied Science.
How Does A Major Support A College Degree
Without a declared major, a college degree such as a bachelors is just a collection of courses in a variety of disciplines. However, with the structure and support of a clearly outlined major, your undergraduate education is transformed into a Bachelors in Criminal Justice or a Bachelor of Business Administration, etc.
Simply put, the 36 credits in your major are what distinguishes a Computer Science degree from a Political Sciences degree, or an Anthropology from a Psychology degree.
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What Are The Different Types Of Degrees
By Jess Scherman on 05/28/2014
At this point in your life, you know yourself well enough to determine that after years at your current job, its the right time to look into earning a degree and discovering all of the career possibilities that await you. But getting started is the tough part.
Youve undoubtedly encountered the tangled alphabet soup graduates list next to their names: AS, AA, BA, BS, BFA, MA, MB, MFA, PhD, etc. And you definitely wouldnt be the first to feel both confused and intimidated by all of the alphabetical possibilities for your education.
Everyone needs a hand getting started, especially in the wake of such an important decision! So take a look at an essential breakdown of the different types of degrees and move forward deciphering the education plan thats perfect for you.
College Major = The Major Area Of Focus For Your College Studies
To give you a concrete example, lets say that you want your college major to be Biology since you want to go to medical school. So, your college major is biology and when you graduate in four years, your college degree will be: Bachelor of Science in Biology.
To earn your Bachelors degree in Biology, you will likely have to complete some variation of these general education requirements :
- Writing / Composition
- Natural Sciences
- Global Awareness
Once you finish all your general education requirements, you get the opportunity to really focus on your college major.
Your college major is usually about 12 classes. Most classes are 3 credit hours, so your college major will be about 36 credit hours.
A major is made up of 36 credit hours with a predetermined number of required courses in higher-level courses. These courses are usually numbered in the 300 to 400 range. For example, if your major was biology, the course BIO 370 would be a high-level biology course that would fulfill one of the requirements of your Biology major.
There are a wide variety of majors available to study during your undergraduate career, as you can see in this list below of some of the most popular majors.
Examples of college majors:
- Nursing
- Psychology
A major sets the focus and direction of an undergraduate degree, with all the other courses aligning around this core.
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What Is A Major In College
To earn a bachelors degree, you must declare a major. A major is simply a major area of focus for your college studies.
- All students are required to complete about 40 college classes to earn a bachelors degree.
- Of those 40 classes, your college major will be about 12 classes.
Sounds crazy that you spend such a small time on your area of focus, right?
Heres the reason:
Universities want to make sure that you receive a broad education that includes history, government, composition, natural sciences, ethics, and so on. These requirements are called General Education requirements. Typically, you spend your first two years in college completing these General Education requirements.
Heres a simple formula, your bachelors degree is comprised of the following:
General Education requirements + Your College Major + Electives = Bachelors degree in Your Area of Focus.
For example, I majored in Business Administration.
I completed all my general education classes like history and math, plus all the classes required in my college major like business law, economics, accounting, and so on. Once I completed all of these classes, I received my Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
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Types Of Associate Degrees
- A. Focused on liberal art areas like music, history and English. This degree involves 60 hours of coursework to achieve a pass.
- S. Common A.S. programs include biology and chemistry.
- A.S. This broad subject includes programs in business, mathematics and related topics.
- E. Focuses on engineering.
- A.A. Deals with applied arts only.
- P.S. Deals with political science only.
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What Is An Associate Degree In Canada
In some countries, an associate degree refers to an undergraduate degree awarded by a college or university upon completion of a course of study which is usually two years in length. The only province in Canada to offer associate degrees is the province of British Columbia, where a student can complete a two-year associate degree allowing students to then enter a Bachelors Degree program at the third year of study.
Outside of the province of British Columbia, associate degrees are not available, though other provinces do offer one- and two-year certificates and diplomas that can sometimes be transferred into Bachelors programs.
Postgraduate Certificate In Education Level 7
A PGCE offers enhanced academic training to prepare you for a career in teaching. It usually takes 1 year to complete full-time, or 2 years part-time.
It combines theory and learning, with work experience, meaning you spend a good portion of your time in one of our partner schools, putting your teaching skills to work.
To enrol on a PGCE course, you need an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, with entry requirements varying depending on the subject you want to teach.
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What Is A Degree In College
A degree and a major work hand-in-hand, with the major providing the focus while the degree provides an overarching structure and direction for your undergraduate studies. In order to complete any type of college degree, it is required to complete a major as well as other additional courses to ensure that you receive a well-rounded education.
Some of the more popular undergraduate degrees can be seen in the list below:
- Bachelors in Biology
- Bachelors in Engineering
- Bachelors in Nursing
These are just a few prime examples of different types of bachelor degrees that you may earn in order to fulfill your education goals.
An undergraduate degree allows you to partner the specialization of your major and with courses in other disciplines that build on and support the concepts you have learned in your major.
Is It Worth It
According to the Social Security Administration, the 2015 median increase in lifetime earnings ranged from $1.1 to $1.5 million more to workers with bachelor degrees than those with only a high school diploma. The majority of jobs paying from $35,000 to a median $56,000 a year for people aged 25-44, go to those with a bachelors degree.
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What Does A Bachelor Degree Mean
A bachelors degree means an undergraduate degree usually composed of 120 credit hours, awarded by colleges and universities after completing a course of study. Generally, it takes 4 years of study to complete a bachelors degree, but there are a number of accelerated degree programs offered online.
Does The School Have The Major Youre Considering
University HQ recommends that students carefully consider the available college majors at any school they may select. The college major and related coursework will affect your level of preparedness upon graduation. Students should look carefully at coursework and faculty qualifications they should carefully determine if the program can provide a strong educational foundation in the field of choice.
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Degree Options In Canada
Postsecondary institutions issue degrees, diplomas and certificates, depending on the nature of the institutions and the length of the programs. At universities and university colleges, there is an emphasis on degree programs. Applied degrees are offered by some colleges. At all other institutions, the emphasis is on diploma and certificate programs.